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New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's State of the State address will be broadcast online at 12:30 p.m. at www.governor.ny.gov and here on EastNiagaraPost.com.

The governor's address will highlight 14 proposals he has made over the course of the past eight days which he states will stimulate the economy and ensure opportunity for all New Yorkers, strengthen the state’s vital infrastructure and rebuild it to meet the needs of the future, and continue New York’s legacy as a national leader in furthering causes of equality, justice and social progress.

The signature proposals announced with local impact include:

• Restore economic justice by making New York the first state in the nation to enact a $15 minimum wage for all workers. While highlighting this proposal, the Governor announced that the State University of New York will raise the minimum wage for more than 28,000 employees.
• Bolster New York's legacy of environmental protection. The Governor has proposed allocating $300 million for the State’s Environmental Protection Fund – the highest amount ever for the fund and more than double the fund’s level when the Governor first took office. The Governor also announced two major investments in water infrastructure in Suffolk and Nassau Counties.
• Make a series of investments and new initiatives to continue growing the economy and building stronger, more vibrant communities across New York State. These proposals include significant tax relief for small businesses, increased funding to support municipal water infrastructure improvement projects, a new effort to revitalize and transform downtown areas in each region of the state, and a sixth round of the successful Regional Economic Development Council initiative.
• Invest in Upstate transportation infrastructure. This includes a plan to offer a tax credit that cuts tolls in half for the New York residents and businesses who utilize the Thruway most often – benefitting nearly one million passenger, business and farm vehicles using E-Z Passes; eliminating tolls for agricultural vehicles; and keeping tolls flat until at least 2020 for all other drivers. 
• Launch a Municipal Consolidation and Efficiency Competition designed to reward local governments that take real steps to make living and working in New York State more affordable. The competition will challenge counties, cities, towns and villages to develop innovative consolidation action plans yielding significant and permanent property tax reductions. The consolidation partnership that proposes and can implement the greatest permanent reduction in property taxes will receive a $20 million award.
• Dramatically expand and improve access to high-speed Internet in communities statewide. Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul detailed this proposal shortly after the New York State Public Service Commission voted to approve the merger of Time Warner Cable and Charter Communications, which will dramatically improve broadband availability for millions of New Yorkers and lead to more than $1 billion in direct investments and consumer benefits. 
• Launch a $200 million competition to revitalize Upstate airports. The proposal is designed to enhance airports throughout Upstate New York, and promote new opportunities for regional economic development and partnership between the public and private sectors. 
• Increase opportunity for minority- and women-owned business enterprises across New York State. 

Following the speech, responses are expected from those in support and opposition to any and all of the governor's plans.

RELATED LINKS:

• Cuomo continues to push on minimum wage issue
• Unshackle Upstate scoffs at minimum wage proposal
• Cuomo proposes Thruway toll reductions
• Cuomo pushes for faster Internet speeds

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